The Toronto Maple Leafs team of the early 2000s was one of Leafs Nation's favorites. With names like Mats Sundin, Gary Roberts, Darcy Tucker, Bryan McCabe, Alexander Mogilny and many others, the list impressed the fans. Now known as the Eastern Monsters, they had the best chance to make the playoffs and win the Stanley Cup.
After the 2004-05 lockout, things took a turn for the worse for the Maple Leafs, and they faced constant disappointment. Before the 2016-17 season, they had missed the playoffs 10 times in 11 years. It wasn't until 2014 that the draft and developing players became a priority. The Maple Leafs went through a complete rebuild where prospects and draft picks were critical to their success.
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Before that, the Maple Leafs had given out picks like Halloween candy, cutting corners to try and speed up the process. As good as Phil Kessel was, giving up potential stars like Tyler Seguin and Dougie Hamilton didn't sit well.
It's always hard to predict if prospects will pan out, especially in the later rounds, but if the Maple Leafs had focused on growth and development after the lockout, they would have been in a better place. Instead, they are stuck in the past as other teams begin to change their philosophy. Here are six careers involving draft picks made by the Maple Leafs where other teams found gold.
The Brian Leech Trade
To the Maple Leafs: Brian Leetch, 2004 conditional fourth-round pick (Roman Kukemburg, 113th overall)
For the New York Rangers: Jarkko Immonen, Maxim Kondratiev, 2004 first round pick (Kris Chucko, 24th overall), 2005 second round pick (Michael Sauer, 40th general)
This trade seemed good at the time to get Leetch. The Maple Leafs were looking for a strong defenseman with playoff experience to make a deep playoff run. However, he was getting old and his next season with the Boston Bruins would be his last in the NHL.
Immonen and Kondratiev saw limited NHL action, while Kukemburg saw none. In addition, Kukemburg may be Ryan Callahan, who was taken by the Rangers with 127.th perfect choice. Callahan played 757 games with the Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto could have great depth at the rim.
The Rangers first round pick was eventually traded to the Calgary Flames in exchange for a pick in the 2004 Draft. The Rangers selected Lauri Korpikoski 19th overall he was a good depth player, and the Flames selected Kris Chucko who played only two games in the NHL.
Although the players at the end of the first round were not attractive, if the Maple Leafs had kept this up, they would have had defenseman Mike Green (29th overall by the Washington Capitals) who had 70 points in a row. seasons in 2008-09 and 2009-10.
Related: Revisiting the Draft by Doug Armstrong – 2015
The second round pick in 2005 did not look promising. However, Paul Stastny could have been selected, as he was on the board four spots after Sauer was drafted by the Rangers. If the Maple Leafs wanted to make a statement, Kris Letang was on board. A two-time Stanley Cup winner, Letang would anchor Toronto's blue line with a steady presence on both the offensive and defensive ends.
They Must Have Soldiers
To the Maple Leafs: Ron Francis
For the Carolina Hurricanes: 2005 fourth-round draft pick (Jared Boll, 101St general)
While few names have had successful careers selected in the later rounds of that draft, few would have benefited the Maple Leafs. Jared Boll played in 579 games and totaled nearly 1,300 penalty minutes. Meanwhile, guards still have a place in the game.
If the Maple Leafs had kept the pick and passed on Boll, they would have had offensive defenseman Keith Yandle (taken 105th overall).th overall by the Phoenix Coyotes) or future Stanley Cup winner Niklas Hjalmarsson (108)th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks).
Yandle would have provided solid defensive production that became a problem two or three years down the line. After his rookie year, Yandle's points totals over the next few seasons were: 30, 41 and 59. He has been a consistent scorer and would have been a great piece alongside the then-producing Tomas Kaberle. Hjalmarsson would provide a deep presence in the shutdown role, better than other players on the roster like Jeff Finger.
You missed the Norris Candidate
To the Maple Leafs: Yanic Perreault, 2008 fifth-round pick (Joel Champagne, 129th overall)
For the Phoenix Coyotes: Brendan Bell, 2008 second round pick (Roman Josi, 38th general)
This is when the moves started killing the Maple Leafs draft picks and adding to their future pool. At a time when the playoffs were becoming less real, they could use as many picks as possible to draft and develop quality talent.
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The Maple Leafs selected Joel Champagne who never saw an NHL game while they could have Jared Spurgeon (picked 156th overall by the NY Islanders) or Cam Atkinson (picked 157th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets). While both were taken before the Maple Leafs' 158th pick (draft Grant Rollheiser), they could have swooped in and taken them early in the fifth round.
A second round pick in 2008 is a tough pill to swallow where the Maple Leafs could land a Norris Trophy prospect. The Coyotes ended up trading this trade to the Nashville Predators for Colby Robak and Mathieu Brodeur. The Predators ended up selecting Josi.
Since entering the league, he has been a consistent defensive presence for the Predators, eventually becoming their top defenseman and Norris Trophy winner. In his nine seasons, Josi has reached 50 points eight times and 60 points four times. He has truly emerged as one of the best defenders in the game, something the Maple Leafs have longed for. At a time when defense is one of their weak points in their game, Josi could be the backbone of the blue line and answer their problems.
Toskala Trade
To the Maple Leafs: Mark Bell, Vesa Toskala
For the San Jose Sharks: 2007 second round pick (Pick traded to St. Louis Blues, selected Aaron Palushaj 44th overall), 2009 fourth round pick (Pick traded to Predators, selected Craig Smith 98th overall), 2007 conditional first round pick (Selected and traded to the Blues, selected Lars Eller 13th general)
This is another bad one. The Maple Leafs were originally supposed to pick 13th overall in the 2007 Plan. The Sharks were able to move up, alternating with St. Louis Blues. In that trade, the Sharks selected Logan Couture.
If the Maple Leafs take action with St. Louis instead of San Jose, then the Maple Leafs would have a top center with over 700 games played and over 500 points. Scoring has been something that has plagued the Maple Leafs for years as Toskala has not been as successful as many expected. After the Maple Leafs traded Tukkaa Rask for Andrew Raycroft, they went through a revolving door of goals and struggled for years to find a starter.
Even if the Maple Leafs kept their 13th once they were selected, they would add another solid defender on the move. They would have chosen Kevin Shattenkirk who was always guaranteed at least 45 to 50 points as a defender.
Luke Schenn over Erik Karlsson
To the Maple Leafs: 2008 first round pick (Luke Schenn, fifth overall)
For the New York Islanders: 2008 first round pick (Pick later traded to Nashville Predators, Colin Wilson 7th overall), 2008 third round (Pick later traded to Chicago Blackhawks, Shawn Lalonde 68th overall), 2009 second round (Pick). became Anaheim, Matt Clark was selected 37th general)
This completes a hat-trick of poor draft picks for the Maple Leafs. They were supposed to take the seventh spot but they went up and selected Luke Schenn for the fifth spot. They could have gotten the gold if they kept the pick and didn't trade the seventh pick.
Erik Karlsson and John Carlson have established themselves as elite defensemen and as they are, they could be game changers for Toronto if selected. Even Jordan Eberle was on board. Instead, the Maple Leafs selected a defenseman who was rushed into the league and never developed into anything with promise. The ceiling was high for both Karlsson and Carlson as they are both star defenders in the league.
Draft Bust
To Toronto: 2011 first-round pick (Tyler Biggs, 22nd overall)
For the Anaheim Ducks: 2011 first-round pick (Rickard Rakell, 30th overall), 2011 second-round pick (John Gibson, 39th general)
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The Maple Leafs had two first round picks in this draft. It wasn't a mistake to add another first round pick, but more so a pick. The Maple Leafs would have had Rakell and John Gibson with a second round pick. They moved up to pick… Tyler Biggs who didn't see any game time. Along with Biggs, they selected Stuart Percy while both Phillip Danault and Vladislav Namestnikov were available. Both picks would be something as both are in the NHL. If they were drafting correctly, the Maple Leafs would have Rakaell and one of Danault or Namestnikov for their two picks.
Rakell has dipped in production, but still guarantees 25 to 30 goals a season. And even if the Maple Leafs didn't select Gibson in the second round, they had other options. They could have a Stanley Cup champion in Brandon Saad or someone named Nikita Kucherov, who is one of the best scorers in the game right now.
Since 2016-17, Kucherov has averaged more than 80 points five times while scoring 100 points four times, averaging 1.20 points per game in his career.
If the Maple Leafs had kept their picks and selected well, they would have had a long list of players including: Rakell, Kucherov, Couture, Paul Stastny, Callahan, Letang, Josi, Yandle , Hjalmarsson and Gibson and one of Karlsson, Carlson or Eberle. That's an abundance of NHL talent where they could have avoided several disappointing seasons from 2005-06 to 2014. The team could still compete in the playoffs, instead of trying to cut corners and eventually get into a full playoff-rebuild.
While we may not have the players we have right now, things would be a lot different if they kept their picks instead of trading them all away. The loss of the Maple Leafs has happened to other teams and they benefit greatly from that.
Information from the NHL Trade Tracker.
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